By Jake Barnett, ProWrestling.net Co-Senior Staffer (@jakebarnett)
AEW Dynamite (Episode 303)
July 23, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois, at Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
Simulcast live on TBS and Max
Excalibur announced a World Tag Team Title Eliminator Tournament, with FTR and Jet Speed facing off later tonight, along with MJF making an appearance, and Billie Starkz vs. Toni Storm. Hangman Page vs. Wheeler Yuta is up next to start the show. Hangman Page was interviewed by Renee Paquette backstage. He said he would punish Wheeler Yuta for what he did to Colt Cabana on Collision, and he wouldn’t regret any of it. MJF walked up and attempted to goad Hangman into giving him a title shot. Hangman shut him down and said if he wanted a shot he needed to earn it or cash in his contract, but he knows he wouldn’t do either because he is a facade and a coward.
In the arena, Hangman Page made his ring entrance, but Wheeler Yuta ambushed him as he got to the ring through the crowd. The referee rewarded him for this by ringing the bell.
1. Hangman Page vs. Wheeler Yuta: Hangman quickly collected himself and attacked Yuta while footage was shown of the attack on Colt Cabana from Collision by the Death Riders. The action spilled outside and Hangman tossed Yuta into the barricade a couple of times. Back in the ring, Hangman performed a fallaway slam into the corner. He followed up with a Death Valley Driver for a two count. He then attempted Deadeye, but Yuta held onto the top rope.
Page replied with a lariat, and then delivered a Buckshot Lariat for the win.
Hangman Page defeated Wheeler Yuta at 3:29
Hangman brought a chain into the ring after the match. He wrapped the length of chain around his fist and battered Yuta with it repeatedly. He then wrapped it around the neck of a bloodied Yuta and threatened to toss him over the top rope. He decided against it, and told Yuta that no one was coming to save him, as the Death Riders had failed to show up. Hangman stared Yuta down as he left the ring. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Mark Briscoe was announced for later in the show.
Backstage, Athena barked orders at Billie Starkz. She walked Billie through calling her the ROH forever champion and AEW standing for Athena Elite Wrestling. Billie called Toni a musty ass hoe who couldn’t stand in the ring with Athena. We then got ring entrances for the next match, first by FTR and then Jet Speed.
2. Jet Speed (Speedball Mike Bailey and Kevin Knight) vs. FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler): FTR tried another ambush before the bell, but it didn’t pay off. Dax ate some kicks from Bailey for a two count. FTR was then sent to ring side, and Knight and Bailey splashed FTR on the floor. Back in the ring, Harwood chopped Bailey and tossed him into the corner. He landed some more chops and a euro uppercut, followed by a back elbow. Things spilled outside again, where Harwood went for a piledriver, but it was reversed. Wheeler came over and tried one himself, and Bailey reversed into a back body drop again…[c]
My Take: They must have 10 matches planned for this show, because the pace has been brisk thus far. Page and Yuta was what it should have been. Yuta realizing that the Death Riders don’t have his back was a move in the right direction. That faction needs to disband quickly, as it’s long outlived its poorly articulated purpose.
FTR took control during the commercial break. They attempted a PowerPlex on Knight as the show returned, but Bailey broke it up. They then landed stereo dropkicks. Knight hit a pendulum DDT on Harwood and covered for a near fall. Knight then landed a splash on Harwood while Bailey jumped onto Wheeler with a moonsault on the floor.
Harwood used a dragon screw leg whip in the ropes on Knight. He then landed a second one in the ring on Bailey. Dax then wrapped the knee of Knight around the ring post and then gave a middle finger to the crowd in the front row. Back in the arena, Dax performed another dragon screw on Knight and applied a Sharpshooter. Wheeler applied a Sharpshooter on Bailey on the floor. Knight reached the ropes to escape. FTR went for the Power Plex again, and Knight got the knees up on the splash.
Bailey managed to land a Shooting Star Press on Harwood, and Knight crawled over for the cover. Harwood kicked out at 2.99…[c]
Bailey landed some desperate shots on FTR and then dove on them at ringside. He didn’t quite stick the landing. Bailey went for another Shooting Star Press in the ring, but landed on his feet after Dax rolled out of the way. He followed up with a shooting star knee drop for a close near fall. Knight returned to the match and Harwood attempted a powerbomb, but got reversed into a cover for a two count. Dax landed a a powerbomb on Bailey, but Knight pulled him into a backslide for another near fall. Harwood then rolled up Knight, and got some extra leverage using Stokely Hathway’s crutch and stole the pin.
FTR defeated Jet Speed at 17:03
Tony Schiavone interviewed Stokely and FTR after the match. Stokely said Adam Copeland belongs in prison, because everybody knows he’s not a wrestler and Copeland had no business putting his hands on his last week. He called Copeland a terrible human being and a cancer to AEW and it doesn’t matter what anyone else says. Copeland then made his entrance with a microphone in hand.
Copeland said he forgot that he can’t get within so many feet of them, but he made a business deal to do it for him, and their business is hurting people. MVP, Lashley, and Benjamin made their way out and assaulted FTR. The brawl spilled around ringside as officials and security tried to break it up. Copeland went for another spear on Stokely, but he pushed a security guard into the line of fire.
Backstage, Nick Wayne said it was time for them to back up their words with action. He said starting on Collision this Saturday, they would show what they are capable of when they are “uncaged”. Will Ospreay was shown walking backstage. We will hear from him up next…[c]
My Take: The Cope and Hurt Syndicate temporary alliance doesn’t make a ton of sense, but hey, the match was fun. I guess there weren’t any other babyface teams available.
Moxley cut a promo backstage. He said Hangman won the match and found something within himself, and even he has to applaud that. Moxley then said that he’d have to do what they all do after winning the title, and that’s get up the next day and do it again. Moxley said he lost and there was no need to be a bitch about it. He said he knew which Hangman rode into All In, but they’d find out by the end of the night which one rode out. He referenced a rematch and said he would fix the mistake.
In the arena, Will Ospreay made his entrance. He spoke about his neck and how it had been a problem for 10 months. Ospreay said AEW doctors have been great, but he had done it to himself by pushing himself so hard. He said he made a lot of promises to Swerve, Hangman, and the fans that he felt he had to keep, but he had been rushed to the Hospital after all in. Ospreay said he has two herniated discs that were pressing on his spine, but the good news is that doctors have said that they believe it to be treatable.
He continued and said that he was happy to take part in reclaiming the AEW title, and told Hangman that he was coming for his rematch eventually. Ospreay said he hopes with the right physio and the medical help AEW can provide, he will be able to return to the ring by Forbidden Door. He joined Swerve on the ramp and they embraced, and both men saluted the crowd.
We then got a video package for a new faction featuring Skye Blue, Julia Hart, and Thekla. Willow Nightingale was then interviewed backstage, and asked what was next for her. She said she had a chance to mix it up with Thekla for $100k and had her beat. She then told Thekla that when she feels her spidey senses tingling it would be her, and she would see her in the ring…[c]
My Take: Ospreay returning in a month seems a bit aggressive if he really has two herniated discs pressing on his spine, but maybe he’s got Cena’s healing factor or something. Moxley’s promo was lame. He should be far more upset about losing the AEW World Championship.
Backstage, MJF walked up to the Hurt Syndicate and criticized them for doing business with Cope, and asked them where they were when he was trying to get a title shot against Hangman earlier. MVP said they are in the business of hurting people and they made a business deal with Copeland. Lashley shoved MJF up against a locker and told him they don’t owe him shit and every week he does nothing but talk about himself. He said he wanted him out of the Hurt Syndicate and gave a thumbs down. Lashley rolled his eyes at him and MVP shook his head and walked away.
In the arena, Athena watched from the balcony as Toni Storm made her entrance. She was followed by Billie Starkz.
3. Toni Storm vs. Billie Starkz: Billie got off to a quick start with some strikes, but Toni took over with a backbreaker quickly. She then landed a monkey flip, but Starks got back to her feet and landed a chop. Starks then kicked Storm off the apron and delivered a dive to the floor. She continued the assault on the floor and tossed Storm into the announce table. Starkz landed a snap suplex in the ring and covered for a two count…[c]
My Take: The MJF and Hurt Syndicate implosion climbed on the rocket sled. I can’t say I’m mad about it, it hasn’t made for must see TV thus far.
Toni had lipstick all over her teeth and shrugged off punches from Starkz. She then delivered some Mongolian chops and a sit out powerbomb for a close near fall. Toni then went for the TCM Chicken Wing, but Starkz escaped and delivered a twisting suplex into a backbreaker for a close near fall. Toni replied with a Fisherman’s Suplex for a near fall of her own. Starkz delivered a pump kick and then placed Toni into an Electric Chair. Toni rolled into an Americano for a near fall.
Starks landed some high impact offense and covered for some close near fall. She went for a Senton Atomico, but Storm got the knees up. She then applied the TCM Chicken Wing and got the win.
Toni Storm defeated Billie Starkz at 9:25
After the match, Starkz returned to the ring and cracked Toni with the AEW Women’s Championship. Billie waived Athena down to the ring, but threw Aubrey Edwards out of the ring for some reason. Athena arrived and smacked Toni with the clipboard with her title contract. She then tossed her into the ring steps multiple times, and hit her with the clipboard again.
Athena went to sign her contract as Starks threw Aubrey back into the ring. Alex Windsor appeared and attacked Athena, preventing the contract from being cashed in. She will challenge Athena for the ROH Women’s Title on Collision this week. Windsor helped up Storm…[c]
My Take: That was a fun match, although I question the wisdom of Starkz getting in so much offense and so many near falls. There should be a bit more separation between the World Champion and the minion of her challenger for the feud to be maximally effective.
Swerve Strickland made his entrance for the next match. Don Callis then welked out and gave a big hype speech for Hechicero, who then made his entrance.
4. Swerve Strickland vs. Hechicero: They battled back and forth a bit. Hechicero went for a sleeper but Swerve quickly escaped. He then worked through some mat techniques and kept Swerve from using his speed and explosiveness. They eventually separated and Swerve landed some chops. Hechicero then applied a hammerlock and spun swerve around in a circle while in the hold. Swerve fired back with a tilt a whirl backbreaker and a vertical suplex…[c]
Hechicero landed a heavy strike in the corner and then delivered a side slam, but Swerve kicked out nearly immediately. Swerve then took Hechicero down and then a leaping back elbow while he was seated. He followed up with a corkscrew kick and then leapt to the top rope for a 450 and a close near fall. Hechicero fired back with an armbar, and then rolled up Swerve for a two count. Swerve kicked free and popped up with a facebuster.
He then took to the top rope, but Lance Archer ran down and interfered to cause a DQ.
Swerve Strickland defeated Hechicero by DQ at 10:19
After the match, Brodie King and Bandido ran down to even the odds. They cleared Hechicero and Archer from the ring. Kazuchika Okada slipped into the ring from behind Swerve and hit him with a chair. He then set up for a Tombstone, but Swerve escaped and delivered a headbutt. He then wrapped the chair around Okada’s head, but he escaped before Swerve could land a House Call Kick.
Backstage, Alicia Atout interviewed Ricochet and the Gates of Agony, until Ricochet insisted they be called GOA. They said they were $200k richer, and they would invest it in their quest for gold. Ricochet said they would be respected or feared, and that is a demand. He then cackled like a goof…[c]
My Take: Swerve and Hechicero wasn’t bad, but it never seemed to get out of second gear. Maybe you can chalk it up to unfamiliarity. Swerve and Okada has a lot of potential, but I want to hear some trash talking sooner than later.
MJF made his entrance for an interview. He said he didn’t need Bobby Lashley to get back his World Championship. And as far as the Cowboy is concerned, he called Hangman a coward and said he doesn’t need the contract to win the title, he would beat him in the center of the ring. Mark Briscoe then walked out. He said much like his kosher pickle, he was going to keep this short. Briscoe said he was going to exercise self control because his pay would get docked if he shoved that microphone up his ass.
He accused MJF of stealing his win in the Casino Gauntlet match, and said he wanted him one on one in a match next week. MJF said no and mocked him, and said if he was supposed to win, he would have. He told Briscoe that when the pressure was on, he loses and MJF wins. MJF called himself a generational talent and the most well rounded performer in the world today. He then said Briscoe sucked, and he was white trash just like everyone from the midwest.
MJF said he knows the crowd loves Briscoe and the crowd can’t get enough of him. He said his lazy eye and ugly face make people feel warm inside, but none of them actually think he’s a top guy that’s anywhere near MJF’s level. MJF called Mark a joke and a circus clown that gets paraded around for cheap laughs and cheap pops.
He then said that he did know another guy from Delaware that people feared and looked up to. MJF continued and said that the other guy was worth his time, and it must suck to wake up every day that no one will ever respect Mark like they did his brother Jay. Mark headed to the ring, and MJF bailed. He headed up to the stage around the ring, and Claudio Castagnoli made his entrance for the Main Event.
5. Mark Briscoe vs. Claudio Castagnoli: Both men traded big chops. Forearms, and punches as the match began. Claudio landed some lariats in the corner and took control. He then followed up with some big elbow strikes and kicks. Briscoe fired back and dumped Claudio to the floor, he then landed some redneck kung fu and a lariat. He then attempted a dive through the ropes, but Claudio caught him and swung him into the barricade on the floor…[c]
My Take: At this point MJF has to take a loss to Briscoe, because if someone invoked by dead brother (RIP Corey) to talk that much shit about me they are going to have to see me in the NXT parking lot.
Claudio placed Briscoe on the turnbuckle in the corner and climbed up for a superplex. Briscoe fired back with some chops that sent Claudio back into the ring. Mark jumped at him, but Claudio cut him down with a chop for a two count. Darby Allin was then shown standing amongst the crowd. Claudio waved a finger at him, and the delay allowed Briscoe to capitalize. He landed some punches, a lariat, and a overhead throw for a near fall.
Claudio got sent to the floor, and Briscoe landed a somersault dive through the ropes. He then stood on the announce desk and drove an elbow into Claudio. He then climbed up on the barricade and delivered a blockbuster on the floor. Back in the ring, Briscoe delivered a Froggy Bow, but Claudio kicked out at 2.9. Both men battled on the turnbuckle in the corner. Claudio managed to land an avalanche body slam for a near fall.
He then managed to use a thumb to the eye without the referee seeing it, and delivered a running uppercut for a near fall. Claudio then attempted a Neutralizer, but Briscoe reversed into an inside cradle and got the win.
Mark Briscoe defeated Claudio Castagnoli at 13:43
After the match, Marina Shafir landed a chop block on Briscoe. Claudio then dropped him gut first on a chair. Moxley grabbed a microphone and said Hangman isn’t the champion yet, and no one should get too comfortable. Hangman Page walked to the ring and told Moxley that he lied when he said he didn’t want Texas Death. But when he says that he doesn’t have the courage to survive under pressure and do it again and again, he thinks he actually believes that. Page then said that he will prove it, not to this version of Moxley, but the one who carried the company so many times in the last six years.
Moxley nodded along as Page said that he would give him his title match next week on Dynamite, but he was the challenger this time and they were going to play by Hangman’s rules. Page declared that everyone but a referee would be banned from ringside, and since he already knew the answer was yes, he would see Moxley’s dumb ass next week.
My Take: Another solid match to close the show, and hopefully next week is the implosion of the Death Riders that we all deserve. Moxley needs to go away and hit the reset button and come back with a different perspective, and his absence would do everyone else in the faction a big favor as well. Overall, this was a slightly below average edition of Dynamite for me. I liked a few segments, but it didn’t grab my attention minute to minute like the best episodes do.
Can the world title please take out a restraining order on Jon Moxley?
“The MJF and Hurt Syndicate implosion climbed on the rocket sled. I can’t say I’m mad about it, it hasn’t made for must see TV thus far.”
Literally the top rated quarter hour every week for the last month or so has been MJF and the Hurt Syndicate (excluding the artificial Q1 number). They’re the ONLY thing in AEW at the moment that doesn’t lose viewers, so I’m sure some of the fuckwits in the back cried to Tony to put an end to it.
HULK HOGAN DIED!